Steps to Leaps Lunch and Learns changing to Discussions and Dialogues

The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life will be switching its virtual Steps to Leaps Lunch and Learns series to Discussion and Dialogues in the Spring 2021 semester.

Interested individuals can register by clicking the registration link that corresponds with the event information listed below. Events, which are geared toward faculty and staff, now will be held throughout the day instead of during the lunch hour.

Feb. 4 -- Too Tired to Have an Impact – A Conversation Continued

During the Steps and Leaps Fall Summit, faculty and staff heard a very quick conversation about why they feel so tired and how they can support themselves through their weariness so that they can help students have an impact. During this Discussion and Dialogue, panelists will continue with the conversation, providing thoughts on some of the tangible resources that can be used and offered to students. 9-10 a.m. on WebEx.

Feb. 12 -- Assessment for Social Justice

This conversation will consider topics ranging from how assessment and research intersect with social justice to how communities can make sure that the work they are doing in assessment helps to support all students and take their identities and experience into consideration. These conversations will engage in a dialogue about what a community of practice for socially just assessment would actually look like. 1-2 p.m. on WebEx.

March 2 -- Supporting Women in STEM

Many programs offered at Purdue provide added support to women in STEM to build networks and increase their well-being and grit. This session will look at some of these programs including learning communities and academic support programs. 9-10 a.m. on WebEx.

March 31 -- What Worked: A Conversation About Programming with Steps to Leaps

It can be difficult to know what will work and what will not. It’s also hard to know what is already working because sometimes the best ideas are the ones borrowed from colleagues. Steps to Leaps offers a guideline of pillars and definitions that can frame the programs and education provided to students. At this event, colleagues will outline what has worked for them as they’ve used Steps to Leaps and partnered with Steps to Leaps to provide programs and education for students. 1-2 p.m. on WebEx.

April 12 -- Creating Networks Within Academic Colleges for All of Purdue’s Students

Purdue’s academic colleges provide a great deal of opportunities for student support through creating networks. This conversation will be about what these resources are and how they provide students with opportunities for growth. 9-10 a.m. on WebEx.

April 15 -- Promoting Grit and Impact Through Your Diversity Story

Following the great conversations with Dr. Jackie Thomas-Miller about how bias can play a role in how to support our students, another important conversation takes a further step -- how to help promote student grit and impact by first identifying one’s own diversity story. 9-10 a.m. on WebEx.

Steps to Leaps is a collaborative effort to foster lifelong habits and promote a growth mindset in the areas of well-being, leadership and professional development, impact, network building and grit. Steps to Leaps offers goal setting, action planning, worksheets, short motivational videos and more for self-assessment or facilitator-led assessments to help students celebrate their strengths while learning paths to improvement. Steps to Leaps was created by students for students under the care and direction of the Office of the Provost and is aligned with long-term University goals under the Provost’s Road Map for Transformative Undergraduate Education.

To learn more about Steps to Leaps, access resources and see student-focused events, visit purdue.edu/stepstoleaps.

Writer: Makenna Fitzgerald, fitzge39@purdue.edu